Don Quixote Defeated by the Windmill c. 1780s

This is a drawing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard depicting a scene from Miguel de Cervantes' novel, *Don Quixote*. Fragonard uses pen and ink to depict Don Quixote, the titular character, in defeat after a battle with a windmill, a crucial scene from the novel. Fragonard captures Don Quixote's valiant yet ultimately humorous struggle, making this a striking visual interpretation of the famous literary character. The loose brushstrokes, indicative of Fragonard’s artistic style, lend a lively energy to this sketch of a moment from a beloved piece of literature.